23 November 2005

Trail of destruction continues

The Green Party is disappointed that milk magnate Graeme Hart is continuing to leave a trail of destruction across the South Island's dairy products industry.

It was revealed today that Mr Hart is to close the Anchor milk factory at Hornby, with the loss of 18 jobs.

"The closure of this plant is a blow to the Hornby community and I'd ask Mr Hart to think about the human cost," Green Party Spokesperson on Waste Nandor Tanczos says.

The announcement follows Hart's September decision to close the Meadow Fresh yoghurt factory in Christchurch. That move cost 50 people their jobs.

In addition he yesterday confirmed that his Meadow Fresh milk plant would no longer provide milk in glass bottles in the South Island. This too cost a number of jobs in the bottling plant, and could result in numerous milk delivers losing their livelihoods.

"Running a successful business is about more than just profits. Ordinary people are going to face significant financial and emotional hardship in order that Hart's Rank Group can report an attractive dividend for its shareholders.

"Investors seem to love Graeme Hart's reputation as a hard arse in business, but when you look at the human reality it's pretty rank," Mr Tanczos says.

ENDS

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